Transforming The Surfaces Industry: Meet Megan Noel, Head of Marketing at Interslab

As the Head of Marketing at Interslab, the powerhouse behind renowned brands Caesarstone, Rudi’s Choice, Infinity, and Eezi Quartz, Megan Noel is a force to be reckoned with. With a passion for creative campaigns and a commitment to making a meaningful impact, Megan is poised to revolutionize the industry with her expertise in strategic communication, digital marketing, and AI. Join us as we delve into her vision, insights, and exciting industry developments.

Megan, please tell us more about the career path that has led you to become the Head of Marketing at Interslab.

I used to be the Managing Editor at ELLE Decoration SA. Interslab was an advertiser with the magazine for their various brands and that’s how I got to know the company. After a four-month sabbatical to South America the opportunity to join their marketing team opened up and I’ve always been the type of person to continue moving forward even if the goodbyes are bittersweet.

Have you always been passionate about decor and design? Where did it all begin?

I’ve always appreciated beautiful, considered interiors but it was only from being immersed in them all day every day at ELLE Decoration that I realised how important aesthetics were to me. Under the then Editor, Bielle Bellingham, our eyes were opened to seeing design in a totally different light. She challenges the norm and asks uncomfortable questions – something that is so necessary for design to keep evolving. I now love following the industry and am constantly inspired by the experts. Seeing how interiors and design can influence and impact a person’s life and well-being is quite spectacular.

Please share some of your proudest milestones in the industry?

The proudest milestone for me is watching our brands make a difference in the industry and society. Working for bigger brands has allowed us to support local and help the industry grow. In my tenure, we’ve seen several student designer initiatives take shape and change lives. They’ve broken barriers to entry and encouraged other brands to follow suit. I feel we have a responsibility as a corporate to not be solely focused on profit but on our greater purpose in the industry. We’ve also been able to collaborate with some incredible local designers and showcase them to a global audience. The Future Designers Fund, the Student Designer Competition, the 2024 Furniture Collab featuring Walter Train, Mpho Vackier, Tanisha Neil and Tshepo Sealetsa; to name but a few. Producing and publishing design and renovation series, which have received global recognition, has also been fun and very satisfying to watch their success.

What challenges have you faced throughout the years, and how did you overcome them?

The typical sales vs marketing debate is always going to ensure we are well researched and sell our ideas with conviction. Sales and Marketing are always going to speak a different language, but this has really opened up our team to new ways of thinking – it’s ensured we don’t do things for the sake of it and that every cent spent is worthwhile. Another challenge would probably be thinking too big! Our team is small but our ideas are next level and we always want to try and do it all – we’ve often had to take safer roads to ensure we don’t burn out – not ideal for such a passionate and driven team. We have to trust and have a lot of faith in our decisions. Apart from that, we also often have shipping delays with our imported products, forcing us to pivot whole campaigns and be flexible. And lastly, I would say keeping up with digital, AI and marketing trends has definitely kept us on our toes – forcing us to surround ourselves with the best in the business and lean on people in other fields.

What is your hope for the future of design in South Africa?

I hope to see more brands getting on board with collaboration, even competitors. We learn from each other and the growth of the South African design industry can be accelerated if designers and brands felt more secure in their convictions. From my years of attending international design fairs, I can say that there has definitely been a shift, from African design being considered as following international design trends, to now leading them and standing independently, so I am feeling incredibly hopeful for what the future holds.

Are there any latest projects and collaborations you are working on?

We have got so many cards up our sleeve. We see 2025 elevating the surface industry to new heights. Watch this space.

So what can we expect in the near future?

We can’t say too much about what’s to come, but we’ve been ensuring that the South African design community has access to a wide variety of surface options in terms of colour, price and material. With the market moving from engineered quartz towards porcelain, we are making sure we have competitive options here. We are also very focused on offering a low-silica option in quartz slabs to ensure the safety of our fabricator customers. Our natural stone collections have also expanded with the focus on the most unique and exquisite choices that the market has yet experienced.

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